The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-06-13
WEST POINT.
Goncral Sherman NIakos n Funny Speech
M. 10 slxty.Four 0FntunieN.

WEST POINT, June 11.--Sixty.four ca
detswere graduated from tho United States
Military Academy this morning. Gones.
ais Sherman and Sheridan were present
and divided the attention Of the cadets
with tho hundreds Of young ladies' in
charming summer costumes, who roamed
about the grounds md gathered to wilt.
ness the oxerciaes. General Sheridan wae
escorted to General Merritt's realdence by
the Cadet battalion, and after being greet.
cd with q salute from the battery review.
cd the corpB. l7yDg,' M 'T"g
At 10 o'clock tho long roll brought all
tho cadets into rank and they marched 10
the appointed place under tho biz canopy.
| On the platform wers Generals Sheridan,
Sherman and Merritt, tho acsdemicsl
and military statf, the Board OF Visitors.
Of which G. W. Childs was president, and
other distinguished gueats. The ersdua.
ting class occupied place of honor and
their comrades took seats behind them.
General Merritt, superintendent Of the
post, presided. The chaplain offered
prayer, oil cadets standing meanwhile.
After the band had played q national air
Rev. John W. Brown, D. D., OF Buffalo.
delivered an address on behalf Of the
Board Of Visitors. His theme was SONAR.
acter and duty" .55 ggasa9,9 W,
General Sherman Wau the next speaker,
He started out with an apology for read.
Ing his speech. He eaid he mover had
read one before. He pulled out big roll
Of manuscript and began to read. He had
not read five lines before he looked up
and began to tell funny story and that
waa the last Of the manuacript. He threw
It aside and never referred to It again,
He said occaoions like this always made
him humorous. He laughed to see how
wise and dignifed these young fellows
as though each OF their young heads con-
tanned all the military knowledge in the
world. "What glorious confidence, what
magnificent innoconce," he exclaimed.
The roar of laughter that greeted this
made the old general forget ell about his
written address and he struck out into
one OF his characteristic speeches, which
was frequently punctua.ed by hearty
laughter and applause by the audience.
General Sheridan was the last speaker.
He welcomed the graduates into the ranks
Of the army. He urged thom to do their
duty in the best way they knew how; to
be good to their mon and then their men
would bo good to them. He said young
otticers should not ask influential friends
to help them. II never got any OF that
kind OF help. When I wss appointed
lieutenant l resolved to bea frst.class one
and to perform my duties in the very best
wsy I knew how."' ST. 5gsl q 40
At tho conclusion of his address G General
Sheridan handed the graduates their di.
plomas. Francis R. shrunk, OF Pennsyl.
vania, was the first to stop forward, but
the applause that created him as the high
est man in the class was nothing compared
with the thunderous hand.clappinc
awarded colored cadet Alexander for win.
ming thirty-second place in the class. The
cadeta marched back to the barracks, and
when the order to break came, made a
daeh Tor their quarters where they dotfed
their grey, and re-appeared in civilian
clothing. None Of them was put under
the pump as Was oncs the custom. They
have boon granted furlough of two
months, and in a few weeks will receive
sssignmentn in the army. Three yearlings
aud eleven plebes we're found" Yesterday
and sent home. The class which graduated
to-day was originally $50 strong. Re-